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DENVER - Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic will be sidelined at least six weeks while receiving treatment for a herniated disc in his back, the team announced Wednesday.

The injury was sustained during his first shift against Phoenix on Friday.

"I'm comfortable with the plan going forward and will work as hard as I always have in order to return to the lineup," Sakic said in a release.

Sakic originally strained his back in a weight room session that caused him to miss a game against Minnesota on Nov. 6. He returned on Nov. 8 against Nashville before being sidelined for the next five games.

"He'll continue to be monitored by our medical staff who will prescribe a treatment regimen that will hopefully allow Joe to be back playing as quickly as possible," Avalanche executive vice-president and GM Francois Giguere said in a release. "Our team physicians are confident that this course of action is the best for Joe at this point in time."